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January 30, 2012

9:18 PM: So leading up to the big weekend
last Thursday was an hour with Gary Bettman on his usual XM Satellite Radio
show, which is now simulcast in Canada on CH 157 (because, as Howard Stern
points out nearly every time he's on live - XM and Sirius are one company, but
two companies when it is convenient)...and amid the usual rhetoric about how the
NHL heading into the break is continuing to break attendance records, etc, etc
(of course, Winnipeg didn't have anything to do with that, did they Mr.
Commissioner?!), a revelation of sorts - Winnipeg's former team, the Phoenix
Coyotes, as we all know, continues to be a work in progress - the revelation, if
you can call it that, is that all of a sudden there are now 3 potential suitors
for the team...up until the commissioner confirmed this on Thursday, there were
at least 2 buyers that we knew of - while he remained coy about the whole thing
and would not reveal names, he did confirm a recent interest from a 3rd
potential buyer...and went on to say while the NHL only moves teams as a last
resort, don't rule it out if they can't resolve the Phoenix situation by the end
of this season...Jim Ballsillie? Anyone? He was told to zip it, and
he has...so who knows?

Before the Pittsburgh Penguins
headed into the break, Sidney Crosby stayed back in California to get a second
professional opinion on the second concussion in as many years that has kept him
out of all but 8 games this season - it seems he also suffered a neck
injury...on Saturday night HNIC's Elliotte Friedman was reporting at least two
cracked vertebrae, but Sid awaits test results...the bottom line - he is nowhere
close to returning, despite reports to the contrary (a report today had him
enjoying a very intense practice)...

Yesterday's All Star Game was only
the 4th that Don Cherry has attended, but before the game even started he called
it the best...then during the rare All Star Coach's Corner, Ron Maclean revealed
an article in the Ottawa Sun where none other than Brian Burke was hot under the
collar about some comments that Grapes had made on a previous segment...Burke
admitted he had complained to the CBC in the hopes that Don would stop the
"vicious" criticism of players and coach...to add insult to injury, when Don
wouldn't talk about it further, Ron went on to suggest perhaps he is trying to
get fired from the CBC so that one of either Sportsnet or TSN would scoop him
up...to which all Don could say "WHAT did you say?!?"...Burke evidently
was particularly sensitive to comments made about Ron Wilson being compared to
Napoleon and being called a "bully"...Don had made these comments because Wilson
didn't clap when a few Canadian troops were introduced at the Air Canada Centre
before a game...after he'd complained quietly, or so he thought, "they leak it.
Nuts."...Cherry had said as recently as last week that if the allegations of the
complaint are actually true, that "He's got to get in line to get me, because
there are lots of people who seem to want to"...

Personally - I don't know what would
have been worse...seeing the high school drama between Cherry and Burke unfold,
and the fallout where now neither one of them will talk, or seeing Ron interview
Gary Bettman...not really sure what Ron is starting by suggesting Don may end up
on another network...does he know something?!

Today, pretty slow news day as
players head back to their respective teams...but tomorrow, it all gets underway
again...yesterday, they were all a big happy family of friends, but tomorrow,
that's all over as the stretch run is on!! Alfie will face off against
Chara again, as the Sens pay a visit to Boston...one of 13 games to get us back
in business...the NY Rangers will be in Newark, Winnipeg visits Philly (remember
the last time these two played?!), Toronto visits Pittsburgh, Detroit and
Colorado visit the Alberta teams...while Vancouver is home to Chicago...the
Sedins host Super Kane...

--------------------

12:07 AM: Just past midnight after another NHL All Star Game...actually
watched the game on PVR delay (when you spend most of Saturday out and about,
you have to get your weekly supplies sometime)...they certainly try to make them
more competitive...I'm always amazed at how they mic up the players and get
cameras on the goalie helmets...I know this weekend allows for that since it's a
celebration of the game - but I'll tell you what, I wish they would do it more
often...maybe not during the stretch run and playoffs, when things get more
serious, but why not mic up some players during a game on Opening Night, or
during Pre-Season...even on Hockey Day In Canada?...

This
year's game had it all...even had a penalty shot...while it was Team Chara
prevailing 12-9 over Team Alfredsson, the clear winners in this whole
extravaganza was Ottawa, the city, the Senators' team, and Alfie...you could
tell fans were somewhat disappointed not only after the home side losing the
game, but also over Marian Gaborik winning the MVP, despite the fact he was the
game's top performer - a hat trick and an assist, in the fans' view, was
overshadowed by Alfie's 2 goal performance in the 2nd period to tie the game
6-6...had he managed to score on Tim Thomas in the 3rd and perhaps even help his
team win the game, probably would have been a different story...but your really
can't argue Gabby getting the award...I can't imagine what the topic of
discussion will before the next Rangers' practice...this game was the only time
you'll see John Tortorella laughing...for the rest of the season...unless the
Rangers go all the way, that is...

Even for somebody like me, just the
experience yesterday was akin to seeing how this city exploded when the Sens
were in the Finals back in 2007...like I said yesterday, you would have sworn it
was Canada Day downtown, if you didn't know any better, that is...I know there
were a ton of visitors - had no less than 3 people stop me asking for directions
to various places...one lady in particular was asking where to go shopping, and
this was literally just around the corner from the Rideau Centre...it was nice
to see such a buzz, even though we're Canada's Capital, I can tell you from
experience sometimes you wonder how a city this size can get so dull at
times...I mean that in the best way possible, but just seems sometimes (many
times) we're an afterthought, on many levels...performers often think twice
before scheduling a show here...many businesses don't often get to Ottawa until
they've been successful in Toronto, Montreal or even Vancouver...hell, it took
until the Sens' 20th season of their modern history to even be considered for an
All Star game...and the unfortunate thing in a 30 team league is we probably
won't be considered for at least another 20 years, if not 30...we're the
big-little city that everyone forgets, you know? (Many blame Government)
But, I can tell you this - after what's taken place here this weekend, the
hockey world has stood still with mouths ajar in amazement...and so have I...

Anyhow - I've been keeping dibs on a
few things that were reported over the past few days...but I don't want to spoil
what's been such an outstanding weekend on so many levels...so, tomorrow's blog
will tackle those and whatever else comes down the pipe...we had everything from
a Gary Bettman revelation about Phoenix, to Brian Burke getting hot over Don
Cherry comments, to Sid's progress (or lack thereof)...more to come tomorrow on
these and other stories...

And I don't want to start anything
because I'm almost 99.999% positive it would never happen, but could you imagine
if Alfredsson would waive his no trade clause for a move to Vancouver, even as a
rental player? Like I say, with Ottawa giving the Eastern Conference a
good run for the playoffs, I couldn't see it happening...especially after a
weekend like this...the fans would be heartbroken...I honestly think he would
retire first...but was there some chemistry on that line with the Sedin Twins,
or what?! It was even better than watching Alfie light it up with Mats
Sundin...and there are still those out there who could care less if the All Star
Game was ever played again...well where else can you see fantasy lines like
that?! Datsyuk to Gaborik on the first goal? Hossa to Gaborik for
the hat trick goal? Sick...

Next year, Columbus will experience
it for the first time...get ready, Ohio...

January 28, 2012

A few pictures from the day...

This blows my mind...this was a black and
white mural enclosed in glass, which came to life when I got my camera flash on
it...

This picture was hanging on the wall to the
right of the screen you see below...

From left: My father, Myself,
brother-in-law Timm along with two of his buddies Joe and Seb - and standing off
to the right somewhere is keeper of the Cup - Phil Pritchard...

They had all of the NHL Jerseys encased in
ice directly across the street from the Convention Centre - by Saturday the ice
was in bad shape from the sun and mild weather, though - this picture from
NHL.com on Thursday shows them in pristine condition...love this picture...

One of the ice sculptures in Confederation
Park...Team Alfredsson's jersey...despite the mild weather, these sculptures
really stayed nice, but then again, Winterlude organizers have a lot of
experience keeping sculptures from melting!!

It was actually White, but I guess the
lighting made it a little bit pink?

Team Chara...

There was one of these Ice Sculptures for
every NHL logo/team...

The hosting city and team...

Even with the All Star Game in Ottawa, the
Battle of Ontario rivalry remains alive...nowhere more evident than at Happy
Daze, a novelty store in the Rideau Centre - this T Shirt was on display right
near the entrance, for everyone to see...

--------------------

Team Alfredsson finished the Skills Competition with a 9
point lead and gets the win - 21-12...

Hardest Shot once again went to Zdeno Chara, who not
only broke his record of 105.9 MPH from last year, he obliterated...108.8 MPH!!
Shea Weber gave him a run for his money, though, getting in the 104-106
range...Daniel Alfredsson, at 39 years of age, managed to get up to 101.1...

In the Elimination shootout, Steven
Stamkos was last player standing...not only that, it was clear Alfie picked the
better goaltenders...it was real nice to see the Ottawa crowd cheer for Brian
Elliott again...

I'm still reeling over Patrick
Kane's Superman impression...the glasses made him look like Drew Carey...his
first shot with the cape was just sick...but then he tried to top it with an
exploding puck...

--------------------

8:35 PM: We're thru 3 events out of 6 at the Super Skills Competition, and it's a
deadlock - 6-6 between Team Chara and Team Alfredsson...

Some of the highlights so far:

Fastest skater is Carl Hagelin, the bright rookie from the NY
Rangers...

Breakaway challenge winner was Patrick Kane, for his "Super
Kane" show...he took a page from the NBA's Dwight Howard and put on a Superman
cape, and took it a step further, put on Clark Kent glasses...Corey Perry was
pretty good too...a nice touch was Logan Couture, coming out for his final shot
attempt in his old Ottawa 67s jersey...not only did it get a rise out of the
crowd, he actually scored...

And the Accuracy challenge was won
by Dallas' Jamie Benn...of all people, Jordan Eberle was one of the players
feeding him the puck...I guess all is forgiven, at least until the next time the
Oilers and Stars hook up...

Skills challenge relay is coming up,
on a fresh sheet of ice...

I had a great day downtown Ottawa
today, checking out both the Fan Fair and the ice sculptures at Confederation
Park...I haven't seen so many people flock to downtown since the last time I
spent Canada Day in Canada (as you know if you read this blog regularly, the last few years I've spent the
holiday in Atlantic City)...the temperature today was just above freezing,
so unfortunately the Rideau Canal was shut down, except for a small patch
allowing folks to cross over and hit the Park...I'll be uploading pictures to
Facebook and a few will show up here too...stay tuned...

Incidentally - if I have to spend
$150 for standing room only tickets - I'd rather sit home in front of my 42 inch
scren...wasn't a seat or spot left in the rink within 10 minutes...I counted at
least 3 scalpers on Colonel By drive, which passes the Convention Centre and the
Rideau Canal...didn't even attempt to see what they were selling tickets for...I
don't want to know...

January 26, 2012

10:45 PM: Capital Tickets has just made available a very limited
amount of tickets for the Skills Competition and All-Star Game...demand will
undoubtedly be high...since receiving the Sens Insider e-mail, I've yet to be
able to access the site...

Just actually read the e-mail
again...between Noon and 8 PM tomorrow, Friday, November 27, 2011 - I can't be
the only one that didn't read that properly...site is still taking forever to
load...they're imposing a limit of 2 per order...and it would appear they'll be
selling both the SuperSkills and Game as a package...

I can't even imagine what the cost
will be...check back here tomorrow...probably will be sold out long before 8
PM...

Team Chara will have all the
Leafs...they go with Kessel and Phaneuf...not to mention they picked Carey Price...

--------------------

8:30 PM: Claude Giroux and Jonathan Quick end up with Alfie...Marian
Hossa and Evgeni Malkin with Chara...

Teams must have picked all the goalies by round 10...

--------------------

8:25 PM: Tim Thomas ends up with team mate Chara...

Team Alfie so far is Team Ottawa...Jason
Spezza is the next pick...

--------------------

8:22 PM: Not a big surprise...Alfie
goes with Erik Karlsson...probably would never live that one down with his
family if he didn't...

--------------------

8:21 PM: Pavel Datsyuk is the first pick?! Chara commented
that he loves the way he plays and indicated that he's hard to play against...

--------------------

8:19 PM: So, two All Star teams will be built, 3
goalies, 12 forwards and 6 defensemen...TSN has allowed for 1 trade...

And Chara wins the toss...

--------------------

8:12 PM: NHL All Star Fantasy Draft...have
heard the "Alfie" and "Leafs Suck" chant already, and the first player hasn't
even been picked yet...on top of that, Phil Kessel has already been booed...

Then again, so was Zdeno Chara and Joffrey Lupul...

Didn't catch this last year until
almost the end...they'll do a puck toss to determine who picks first, then it's
anybody's guess who will go to which team...probably a pretty safe bet both
Sedins will end up on Team Alfie...and pretty safe to say Alfie will pick at
least one Ottawa Senator...

A TSN poll has Evgeni Malkin as the
first overall pick by 50% of the votes...

Earlier I listened to Gary Bettman's
NHL Hour, live from the fan fair...answered fan questions and spoke with Wayne
Gretzky live on the phone, who, by the way, celebrates his 51st birthday
today...Happy Birthday, Wayne!! If you have Sirius, should be able to hear
a repeat of the show at 10 PM on CH 157...

--------------------

10:52 AM: Those of you heading to Ottawa for this weekend's
festivities, get those skates sharpened, because the Rideau Canal's entire 7 +
km skateway is open for business...freezing rain and lower temperatures earlier
this week threatened to keep it closed...so needless to say both NHL All Star
and Winterlude organizers are today breathing a sigh of relief...the mercury is
projected to stay below freezing through the weekend, but (so far) no snow is
expected...while the sun is shining, the temperature right now is -12
Celcius...as long as it stays below -10, the ice will be fine...

The trophy procession at 2-2:30 is
on...too bad I have to work...

January 25, 2012

9:42 PM: I get EA Sports updates on Facebook, and tonight they
posted a video of a rink in Namestovo, Slovakia where the roof collapsed under
the weight of the snow...this sort of thing would probably go unnoticed, except
for who was actually in the building...none other than former NHLer Richard
Zednik, who was running a training session with a group of kids...everybody
escaped without harm...but how lucky is this guy?!

The video is going viral on
Youtube...as you'll see, things could have been a lot worse...

Habs lead 6-2...late in the 3rd,
although this one was over after 20 minutes...evidently Jiri Hudler was the only
Red Wing who came to play...he has both Detroit goals...

--------------------

8:40 PM: Jimmy Howard gets the rest of the night off, and the 3-5
Ty Conklin gets to play...and he isn't faring much better...Max Pacioretty has
already made it 5-0, and the Habs are back on the power play...

6-0...2nd
of the night for Desharnais...this one for all intents and purposes is over...

--------------------

8:15 PM: Tomas Plekanec makes it 4-0...dying
seconds of the 1st period...did these teams trade jerseys or what?! This
is by far the best offensive explosion from Montreal in months...can they hold
on to it, though?

--------------------

8:12 PM: Clearly the Red Wings are mailing
it in...David Desharnais makes
it 3-0, four on four at the 18 minute mark...3-0 for les bleus, blancs et
rouges...Nick Lidstrom is missing his first game in almost three years (streak
of 213 games straight), he is out with the flu...clearly Mike Commodore and
Jakub Kindl both combined can't replace him...hell, the entire defensive roster
can't replace him evidently...

You know things are going well when
Andrei Kostitsyn gets in the slot all alone, not once, but twice...

Well if Mike Babcock wasn't happy
with the performance in a 3-1 win against St. Louis, he'll be beside himself
after this...

--------------------

8:09 PM: OK...so I digress...Detroit
is actually in Montreal...not the other way around...and as of right now the
Habs are up 2-0 late in the 1st and heading to the power play...

Is Rene Bourque really that good?!

And...P.K. Subban negates the power
play 18 seconds in...nice one...

--------------------

6:02 PM: James Neal...that
is who has been chosen to replace Alex Ovechkin at the All Star Game...

The great Jeremy Roenick writes a
blog on NHL.com, and he had this to say:

"He says since he's suspended he
shouldn't go to the All-Star Game, but to me that is a cop-out. This game is
about having the best players in the world there. Alex Ovechkin is a young,
energetic, strong guy, and one of the best players in the National Hockey
League. He should be at the All-Star Game, giving the fans in Ottawa and the
fans that travel in something to watch and some great entertainment.

Ovechkin is one of the most entertaining players in the world not only
because of the way he plays, but also because of his personality. He is a
much-wanted commodity for an event such as the All-Star Game and it's
disappointing that he's not respecting the honor of being chosen to attend.

I understand he's mad at the NHL for his suspension, but this is not the
proper way to deal with it. This is a celebration of talent. The city of Ottawa
has worked hard to put on this game, a lot of man-hours and pride has gone into
putting on the All-Star Game. This is a fan event, and unfortunately he has
made a decision not to go.

It's disappointing to me and I'm sure it's disappointing to a lot of
hockey fans that were looking forward to seeing one of the best players in the
world.

Listen, I am a big Ovechkin fan. I have been since Day 1. But it doesn't
matter that I'm a fan of his because I am disappointed with the way he has
treated this situation. There has to be a little more loyalty to a League that
has enabled you to make over $100 million."

Spot on, J.R....

Only one game on the schedule
tonight - the Habs pay a visit to the Joe...perhaps they could mail this one in,
because nobody wins in Detroit lately...17 straight wins at home or something
crazy like that...even against a much improved St. Louis Blues team the other
night, they made them look like the Columbus Blue Jackets...and quite frankly, I
don't even think the Red Wings were playing anywhere close to their best hockey
in that game...until the latter stages, anyway...

Toronto's Brian Burke has rewarded
defenseman John-Michael Liles with a 4 year contract extension...so take him off
the trade dealine rumor mill...

Tomorrow night at the Casino du Lac
Leamy, the All Star festivities get underway with the Fantasy Draft...should be
interesting to see who Daniel Alfredsson and Zdeno Chara pick...especially the
first few picks...

And, the NHL Fan Fair gets underway
tomorrow at 3 P.M....at the Ottawa Convention Centre (formerly the Ottawa
Congress Centre - same place they held the draft after the lockout)...

Haven't heard yet if they'll be
doing the trophies procession down the Rideau Canal tomorrow, or if the Friday
night skate is still on...the weather has been very mild the last few days,
which will not bode well for ice conditions...even Dan Craig won't be able to
solve that one...

Supposedly there will be ice
sculptures in Confederation Park...that'll be cool...

January 24, 2012

10:31 PM: So, Alex Ovechkin decided today he won't take part in the All
Star weekend...

"My heart is not there. I am suspended, so why I
have to go there? I love the game. It is a great event. I love to be
there. I am suspended. I don't want to be a target. I feel like I'm not
deserving to be there right now because I am suspended."

A target?
At the All Star Game!?? Mmmkay...a target of the media, perhaps...of the
fans and players, no...

Scott Hartnell will replace Jonathan
Toews...we'll wait to see who replaces Ovie...

26 out of 30 teams in action
tonight...and with Ovechkin and Backstrom both out for Washington, where will
the offense come from now? Mathieu Perreault, you say!? Scored a hat
trick tonight in a Capitals 5-3 win over Boston...huge win for Washington...

The NY Rangers continue to roll, as
they shut out the Winnipeg Jets 3-0, and go into the break on top of the Eastern
Conference...maybe, just maybe, they're for real...

Philadelphia is hot on their tail,
still...3-2, shootout winners against Florida...

Buffalo got a rare shootout win 2-1
over New Jersey...

The Bolts were 4-2 better than the
Jackets...

Toronto won back to back against the
NY Islanders, 4-3, in OT...the Leafs shut them out 3-0 last night...how much do
you think Buffalo misses Clarke MacArthur?!

Ottawa is on the ice with the
Phoenix Coyotes tonight...and something you don't hear very often in the
Desert...the fans booing a former player...they're on Kyle Turris every time he
touches the puck...the Dogs are up 2-0 in the 2nd...Sens lost 4-1 in L.A. last
night...all of a sudden Ottawa is on a downward spiral...actually, Alfie just
made it 2-1...Creme Brule and Shane Doan for Phoenix...

Pittsburgh-St. Louis is tied 2-2 and
heading to overtime...same score in Colorado between the Avalanche and Minnesota
Wild, in the 2nd there...

Nashville is up 2-0 on Chicago, late
in the 3rd...Mike Fisher has been on fire lately, and scored again tonight...and
in Dallas Alex Goligoski continues to roll and says thanks for the contract
extension...it's 1-0 late in the 3rd against the Ducks...

Daniel Sedin has the Canucks up 1-0
in the 1st against Edmonton...Taylor Hall somehow came through in a shootout
against San Jose last night, in what was a nasty, nasty game...when was the last
time you saw Ales Hemsky get ejected from a game?

The Sharks are scoreless against
Calgary after 40 minutes...Dave Bolland just got Chicago on the board...

Great interview last night on Scott
Ferrall's show...he had "May Day", Brad May on...

January 23, 2012

9:25 PM: As freezing rain threatens the Rideau Canal and Friday's "skate of
lights" (sponsored by Energizer), the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins,
minus one Tim Thomas, enjoyed the privilege of visiting the White House and
President Obama...

Thomas released this statement on
Facebook:

"I believe the Federal
government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and
Property of the People.

This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level.
This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers
vision for the Federal government.

Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen,
and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in
my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a
country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.

This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT"

Barring any
unforseen circumstances, Thomas will, however,be coming to Ottawa for this
weekend's All Star festivities...as will Jordan Eberle, Kris Letang and Nick
Johnson...Letang will replace Dustin Byfuglien, Eberle will replace Mikko Koivu,
and Johnson will replace Ryan Nugent-Hopkins...there will be at least one more
replacement named as Chicago's Jonathan Toews announced today he won't be
attending after suffering an injury on Saturday night...the irony in Eberle's
invite is had he not been hurt, he would have been named to the team
anyway...certainly is good to see him back, but it is still evident the straw
that stirs the drink on that line is Nuge...yes, I'm still reeling over
Calgary's 6-2 lambasting...can't expect much better tonight, San Jose is on
deck...ouch!!

Alex Ovechkin earned himself a 3
game suspension for a charging Pittsburgh's Zbynek Michalek in the
second period of yesterday's game...there was no penalty on the play...it's the
repeat offender factor...

Now here's a question - if you're
suspended, shouldn't that mean you can't participate in the All Star Game?!
Not sure if the fans would like it, but isn't an invite to the game a
privilege?! Just wondering...

Boston's Andrew Ference also got 3
games for a boarding play on NY Rangers' Ryan McDonagh during overtime on
Saturday afternoon...that play got Ference ejected from the rest of the game,
which the Rangers won in the dying seconds...I tell you what, that Marian
Gaborik is having arguably his best season ever...

We're hitting that weird part of the
schedule before the break...6 games tonight, 13 tomorrow, and only 1 game
Wednesday...then we don't reconvene until next Tuesday...a lot of teams play
back to back tomorrow...Ottawa plays in L.A. tonight, then in Phoenix
tomorrow...Edmonton is home to San Jose tonight, then head to Vancouver
tomorrow...Winnipeg is in Carolina tonight, New York tomorrow...

And one last thought for a Monday
night...noticed uLAr posted this "randumb thought" on his Facebook account over
the weekend:

"OK, I know
it sucks that Sidney's still out, and the level
of headshots / head injuries this season are off the charts, but at what point
do we forget about Sid and start talking about what Malkin is doing over in
Pittsburgh? Absolutely without a shadow of a doubt the most overshadowed &
underappreciated player in the NHL!"

Can't disagree with that...and
evidently the NHL doesn't disagree either, as he was named NHL 1st Star Of The
Week...

What I wonder, is how many more
"Sid's Back" nights are we going to have to endure before we can put this whole
thing to rest? Just hope we don't have another Mario on our hands...

And finally, to those of you who
celebrate it - Happy Chinese New Year - Year Of The Dragon!!! Or, as they
say - Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Did the Leafs really just shut out
the Islanders?!?

January 17, 2012

10:02 PM: Hilarious to hear the Leafs' post game show from The
Fan...a caller from Hamilton compared the Leafs to a "beer league" hockey
team...well, he won't get an argument from me, except only I'll say perhaps he's
insulting beer league hockey...and, maybe the beer itself...;)

I would love for HBO to follow
around ANY Canadian team...maybe there's a story to tell over in Montreal...just
sayin'...

--------------------

9:41 PM: Penguins win the shootout 2-1, win
the game 2-1...James Neal with
the shootout winner...all Eric Staal had to do was get one by Marc-Andre
Fleury...not sure whether he thought Fleury was going to poke check him or what,
but it was a weird play...Fleury went down early and Staal quit on the play...

Pens can't get too
comfortable...they get the Rangers next...who are still up 2-0 on Nashville with
about 8 minutes left in the 3rd...

Ryan Malone's 10th puts the Bolts
ahead of Boston...again...3-2...still half a period left...

5-1 finals in New Jersey and
Philly...and in Dallas it's tied 2-2...late starts still to come...L.A.'s Anze
Kopitar leads the Kings in Goals and assists...and the Twins lead the
Canuckleheads...

Time for Howard...or should I say
the America's Got Talent preview show...

--------------------

9:33 PM: 3-2 is the final from Toronto...1G
1A for Turris...3rd straight loss for the Leafs...all the way back here in
Ottawa I can already hear the faint sound of fans jumping off the bandwagon...

Looks like a shootout in the
Pitts...

--------------------

9:24 PM: Final score from Washington - NY
Islanders 3 Capitals 0...P.A.
Parenteau with his 2nd of the game and 9th of the season sealed the
deal...Evgeni Nabokov only had to make 17 saves for the shutout...

We've got Overtime in
Pittsburgh...still tied 1-1 after regulation...

Oilers tried to pull Dubnyk for the
extra attacker but got called for too many men...chalk it up to
miscommunication...

3-2 Sens thanks to Kyle Turris' 3rd
of the season...still a few minutes to go there...

2-2 Bruins-Bolts after 40...Horton's
2nd of the game tied it...

Patrick Elias' 17th and Tobias
Enstrom's 8th makes it 5-1 Devils...that one is all but final now...

Derek Dorsett's 8th into an empty
net seals if for Columbus...4-2...this game had a black cloud over it from the
very beginning...Columbus with just their 13th win, 8th at home...

8:54 PM: Columbus takes the lead 32 seconds
into the 3rd...Colton Gillies
did all the work, and Derek MacKenzie put it home...3-2...

It's now 2-0 Rangers on the strength
of John Mitchell's 4th...Boston ties Tampa Bay 1-1 with Nathan Horton's
15th...and Detroit had an early 1-0 lead over Dallas thanks to Tomas Holmstrom's
8th...but Dallas' Alex Goligoski has just tied it...

Nashville has fired 19 pucks at
Henrik Lundqvist...he is having a good night...

--------------------

8:47 PM: It's still about a month and 10 days away, but the NHL's
Trading Deadline on February 27 is already getting a lot of hype...and if it
turns out anything like last year, that's all it will be is a lot of hype...

A lot of talk after today's rant by Ryan Miller, that he
may be on the block...while he didn't pull a Cammalleri and call his team a
bunch of losers, he did offer up somewhat of a challenge to the Sabres' G.M.
Darcy Regier by suggesting that making any trade won't change
anything...harsh...

No matter what - I'll be right
here...all day...

--------------------

8:38 PM: Another player hits 20...Jason
Spezza ties Toronto 2-2...

If Ilya Kovalchuk can turn the trick
tonight, he'll have 20...

--------------------

8:33 PM: Derek Brassard ties Edmonton 2-2 with just 0.8 seconds
left in the 2nd...Devan Dubnyk kind of helped that one along with a nice belly
flop in the crease...OUCH!!!!

--------------------

8:30 PM: Kovalchuk gets
his 2nd of the night and 19th of the season...4-0 New Jersey...

Philadelphia now up 4-1 over
Minnesota...Scott Hartnell has 20, Sean Couturier has 10...Braydon Coburn and
Kimmo Timonen both have 2...so far no reports of any altercations between the
Wild players and Peter Laviolette...

Still 1-1 in Pittsburgh...who would
have predicted the Penguins would be fighting for their playoff lives in
January!?

--------------------

8:16 PM: I just can't get enough of these
NHL reality shows...while I
haven't seen them all, I've really enjoyed watching "Oil Change" on
occasion...or as I like to call it "The Boys On The Bus Strike Back"...this past
weekend I finished watching 24-7 Flyers-Rangers (and kind of wish HBO would have
continued following both teams around for about a week or two longer!).....and
now, the newly minted NBC Sports network (formerly Versus) is getting in on the
act...for 36 hours they will follow Nick Lidstrom around for an all access
look...for last night's game against Buffalo and tonight's game against
Dallas..."NHL 36" will follow Lidstrom and other players around from time to
time...Ross Greenburg, who was involved in the HBO series, will also produce
this one for "NHL Original Productions"...

As I've often said...Hockey is my
reality TV...and as the HBO series has proven - the game is equally as
intriguing off the ice...

8:05 PM: Official word from the Oilers...Hall will not return this
evening after suffering a head injury...

Ryan Johansen has cut the lead in
half...it's 2-1...

2-0 Devils over Winnipeg, and same
score for the Islanders against Washington...in Washington...Vinny Lecavalier
has given the Bolts a 1-0 lead against the Champs...Tavares and Parenteau for
the fish sticks, Kovalchuk and Sykora for the Devils...Sykora hit a milestone
700th point in his last game, an assist on Patrick Elias' overtime goal against
these same Jets on Saturday...

As the freezing rain continues to
fall...

--------------------

7:59 PM: The Columbus Blue Jackets have an
in house plastic surgeon?! Apparently he is looking after Hall...

--------------------

7:42 PM: Thought the first period was over in Toronto, but Daniel Alfredsson
got the Sens on the board with his 15th with only 8 seconds left in the first...

--------------------

7:39 PM: Channel surfing tonight between
Sportsnet feeds...Edmonton is in
Columbus, and Ottawa is in Toronto...just 2 of 11 on the schedule tonight...

Short change for Ottawa, who played Winnipeg at home last night, and
were shut out for the first time this season...final score 2-0...Jets were
without Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien and Zach Bogosian...tonight are already
down 2-0 late in the first period to their provincial rival Maple
Leafs...Lombardi and Lupul for Toronto...that's already 20 on the season for
Lupul...where has all the Ottawa offense gone all of a sudden?...1st game of a
five game road trip for Ottawa which will take them into the All Star
break...after tonight, they'll head to California to play all three teams there,
and head back to Phoenix before the break...they'll head to Boston for a game on
the 31st...that'll be a good one...

Don't know if they were joking or
not, but on Hockey Central they made reference to today being the anniversary of
the infamous Alexandre Daigle trade...when asked if they remember who came back
to Ottawa from Philadelphia, the entire panel in unison quipped "No!"...OK, well
I'm going to feel like a real hockey geek, but I remember it like it was
yesterday...the main component that came back to Ottawa was none other than
Vinny (Vaclav) Prospal...and if I remember correctly he actually had a broken
leg at the time (the Ottawa Sun ran a front page picture of Prospal arriving at
the Ottawa International Airport on crutches with his leg in a cast...it
wouldn't surprise me if I still have the paper stowed away somewhere in my
hockey memorabilia)...in what can only be considered yet another first round
draft bust (but none worse than Daigle), the Sens also got Pat Falloon...Jan 17,
1998...ah weren't those the days?! All I can say is I'm happy Daigle was
part of a three way deal the following year, because otherwise he would have
been an Edmonton Oiler...and that my friends, just ain't right...Tampa Bay ended
up with him about 10 seconds later...I still praise the Hockey Gods to this day
for that...there's your Ottawa Senators 20th Season history lesson for today...

Here's the scary part of the lesson
- Daigle has not officially retired from hockey...after playing five seasons
over in Switzerland, four of them with HC Davos, he was loaned to the SCL
Tigers, for the 2009-10 season...after 25 games his contract was bought out,
making him a free agent...he hasn't played hockey since...

A really really scary moment in Columbus during the
warm up before Prospal's present day Blue Jackets team took to the ice against
Edmonton - this is no joke - Taylor Hall tripped over a puck, and created a domino effect on
Ladislav Smid and Corey Potter...ended up getting Potter's skate in the face
just above the eye...nobody seems to know what's happening - some reports were
saying he's gone to hospital, now Jeff Marek is reporting he has not...he is
still on the lineup card, but it's not likely he will play...the Oilers won't
need him, as they've already built a 2-0 lead after the first period...Anton
Lander with just his 2nd career NHL goal, and Ben Eager with his 5th...

So now the debating will commence -
will the NHL make helmets mandatory at all times, not just during a game?!
Not sure if the result would have been any different here unless Hall would have
been wearing his visor at the same time...

New Jersey has a 1-0 lead against
Winnipeg at The Rock...Nashville-Rangers and Boston-Tampa so far are
scoreless...1-0 leads for Philadelphia over Minnesota...and the
Islanders...against Washington?...tied 1-1 between Carolina and
Pittsburgh...Detroit-Dallas, L.A.-Vancouver, and Calgary-San Jose are all later
starts...

January 12, 2012

10:35 PM: Chicago leads 4-2 with about 10 minutes left in the
3rd..and with about 12 minutes left in the 3rd, Winnipeg trails San Jose 2-0...

Anaheim heads to Edmonton tomorrow night...and four other
games, including another Toronto-Buffalo tilt...

And the tradition continues...

--------------------

10:31 PM: And both games were over at about
the same time...David Legwand
gets it for Nashville, Preds win 3-2, and Daniel Sedin for Vancouver, Canucks
win 3-2...that was almost playoff-like...St. Louis had a shot at 1st overall in
the West with a regulation win...not going to happen...with the point, they
will, however, move into 1st in the Central division...for what should be a
short period of time...Detroit and Chicago sit at 55...Chicago is about to move
back into top spot if they can hold off Minnesota...who said the Northwest was
the tightest division?

--------------------

10:28 PM: They'll go 4 on 4 in Nashville, Vancouver will be 4
on 3 for 1 minute 40 seconds...Alex Burrows was taken into the boards by David
Backes with 20 seconds left...reminds me a bit of the game last night in
Edmonton...

--------------------

10:24 PM: Overtime is looming in Nashville
and St. Louis...

--------------------

10:14 PM: Lots more action on the ice tonight...

San Jose leads Winnipeg 1-0 after 40...Carolina 5 Tampa Bay
2...that just went final...Chicago leads Minnesota 4-1 after two
periods...Colorado-Nashville and Vancouver-St. Louis are both tied 2-2 in the
3rd...Philadelphia edged the Islanders 3-2...and the Calgary-Anaheim game is
scoreless after 20...Dallas-Los Angeles is a 10:30 start...

Even Jeff Marek brought up the
bilingual thing with Rene Bourque...

--------------------

10:11 PM: Detroit-Phoenix are headed to a shootout...tied 2-2 after
regulation and overtime...actually looks like Henrik Zetterberg just won
it...Wings win 3-2...

--------------------

10:04 PM: From NHL.com, posted moments ago:

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have acquired
former Flame center Michael Cammalleri, goaltender Karri Ramo and a 5th round
pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for
forwards Rene Bourque, Patrick Holland and a 2nd pick in the 2013 NHL Entry
Draft.

"Mike Cammalleri is a dynamic player who enjoyed great success playing in
Calgary," stated Flames General Manager Jay Feaster. "We believe Cammalleri will
help our offensive production, solidify a second scoring line, bolster our power
play, and bring another strong veteran voice to our room. We are confident that
a return to Calgary will be good for Mike and good for our continued pursuit of
a playoff berth."

Cammalleri, a native of Richmond Hill, ON, has nine goals and 13 assists for
22 points in 37 games for the Montreal Canadiens this season. He spent the
2008-09 season with Calgary setting a career high while leading the team with 39
goals, 19 on the power play which was second in the league. He also added 43
assists for a total of 82 points which was also a career high and good for 13th
in league scoring.

Just as news was breaking...Anaheim
thought they had scored, but they ruled the puck was kicked in the net...still
scoreless...

I can't believe the Habs gave up yet
another goalie prospect...

--------------------

9:56 PM: Sportsnet's Louis Jean is reporting that Rene Bourque is "one of
the components" heading to Montreal...wow...you take my problem I'll take yours?

Fans in Montreal probably don't know
this...Bourque is actually from Lac La Biche, Alberta, not Quebec...but they
probably won't care in the wake of the Randy Cunneyworth saga...as long as he
can speak French, that is...;-)

After tonight's game he has just one
more of his five games to serve...that would be Saturday's game against Ottawa,
in Montreal...

--------------------

9:44 PM: Cammalleri is supposedly going
back to Calgary...no word yet on
who's headed East...this is what the Habs' media is reporting...the NHL
apparently is not yet aware as there is nothing reported on NHL.com yet...

The Flames are playing Anaheim in
the 1st period...will keep an eye on if somebody disappears from the Calgary
bench...

Let's see...Clay Wilson is
scratched...Rene Bourque is serving a suspension...Jarome Iginla and Olli
Jokinen are still on the bench...hmmmmm...

--------------------

9:42 PM: Jason Spezza, 2 goals, Milan Michalek with his 23rd,
Craig Anderson with his 1st shutout of the season...the Ottawa Senators win
again...3-0...against the Rangers!?! Are these guys for real!? We'll
have to wait a little while longer to be sure...like until April...

New York may have finished their first half on top
of the Eastern Conference, but it's not going to get any easier for them...they
still have four games against Boston...

Speaking of Boston...they
hosted Montreal tonight...and that one just went final as well...another win for
the Champs...2-1...but bigger news - yesterday Mike Cammalleri went on a rant of
Patrick Roy proportions:

"We prepare for our games like
losers. We play like losers. So it's no wonder why we lose."...

Today, he downplayed the comments,
yet reports after the 2nd period had Cammalleri yanked from the Habs bench,
heading back to the team hotel in Boston to await further instructions...

Sportsnet is reporting more to come, TSN's Gord Miller
was reporting that Cammalleri has been traded, he just doesn't know it yet...

January 11, 2012

11:29 PM: ...and this time Kovalchuk will
get an assist...manned the point
with Foster...Elias just had to pass the rebound to Zach Parise for the GWG...2-1,
Devils win...2 point game for Ilya...

I have a new nickname for
#44...Hairy Potter...

--------------------

11:26 PM: Corey Potter was called for a trip, got away with a high
stick on Larsson with just 36 seconds left...1:24 of 4 on 3 power play time will
carry over into OT...both teams with a point...last time these two hooked up in
Newark, Kovalchuk scored the winner in OT...

--------------------

11:20 PM: Back and forth now...Carter
to Boulton...no...Jones...no...Parise...no...Smyth...no...we stay tied...2:52
left in regulation...shots are an even 23 apiece...

--------------------

11:17 PM: Kovalchuk was stoned by Khabibulin...could be seen
talking to himself on the Devils' bench...

--------------------

11:05 PM: Will wonders never cease? 2nd time this game Ales Hemsky shot
the puck from the point, this time got it through the Ryan Smyth screen and beat
Hedberg...Oil are 1 for 5 on the PP...just the 4th of the season for Hemsky...1st
in 14 games...tied 1-1...

--------------------

11:02 PM: Ryan Carter gave Edmonton yet another power play
opportunity, but Ryan Smyth negated it by taking a goalie interference
penalty...Hall got away with one in the second, Smyth got caught...still no
change in the score...Oilers just had their most productive shift of the entire
game, which forced an exhausted Devils line to ice the puck...

Patrik Elias is going off, under
protest...Oilers can't say they haven't been given enough chances...

--------------------

10:33 PM: 2nd period ends with Ales Hemsky trying to get a buzzer
beater...from the point?...still scratching my head with him this year...his
heart just doesn't seem to be in it, which completely baffles me...yet, a lot of
pundits are suggesting he could still be dealt before the deadline...just a word
of advice to any team hoping to better their chances at the Stanley Cup - watch
the last five minutes of Game 7 between Edmonton and Carolina from
2006...particularly the play where Hemsky hit the post, and the crossbar on the
same shift...still interested?

37 seconds of power play will carry
over into the 3rd...

After 40 minutes, Oil hold a slight
edge in shots, 15-14...were outshot 10-6 in the 2nd, despite having 3 power
plays...didn't get their 1st shot until the 11th minute...

--------------------

10:29 PM: Not sure what the Oilers read in the Hedberg scouting
report, but they're really trying the short glove side...

Parise gets called for a hook...the
Oilers might welcome a penalty kill at this point...as Taylor Hall just got away
with goalie interference...

--------------------

10:21 PM: The A-Train makes two stops...at Smyth and Horcoff
station...on the same shift...yes, Volchenkov is still a one man wrecking
crew...

Apparently at some point New Jersey plucked Kurtis Foster off
waivers from Anaheim...he is #2 on the Devils' blue line...I seem to have missed
that one...

On the last sequence Milan Kytnar
almost had his first NHL goal, but the Moose held the post...

--------------------

10:11 PM: 11th shorthanded goal of the year
for New Jersey...Ilya Kovalchuk
matches his sweater number...his 17th...1-0 Devils...Jeff Petry couldn't hold
the line...again...

--------------------

10:07 PM: 0 for 1, 0 shots...the
Oilers will get another chance as Ryan Smyth is taken down in his own
end...David Clarkson for interference...

Parise came close to scoring out of
the box...

--------------------

10:04 PM: Zach Parise, 2 minutes for
tripping...the NHL's top penalty
kill as well as the highest shorthanded goal scoring team goes to work...Oilers'
power play is severely handicapped...they've fallen from #1 to #4...

--------------------

9:56 PM: Final score from Washington...Caps
1 Pens 0...Tomas Vokoun with the shutout, his 2nd of the season...Penguins
have lost 6...Capitals move into 8th, Penguins drop out of a playoff spot for
the first time in a long time...

--------------------

9:34 PM: David Clarkson and Taylor Hall
have traded chances early on...

Caps still holding on to that 1-0
lead about halfway through the 3rd...

--------------------

9:25 PM: After it was determined that Ryan
O'Marra couldn't go tonight
because of the flu, it was a scramble for Edmonton to get somebody called up in
time for the game...enter stage right, #64 in your program, 2007 5th round draft
pick Milan Kytnar...the former Saskatoon Blade was playing for the Stockton
Thunder of the ECHL...

--------------------

9:10 PM: The Moose versus the Bulin Wall...Johan
Hedberg gets the start tonight after relieving Martin Brodeur, who was yanked in
last night's 6-3 loss to Calgary...Khabibulin, he needs to be better...

We are underway...40 minutes are
finished in Washington, with the Caps still up 1-0...

--------------------

8:47 PM: Only two games tonight, but the
main event, coming up in about 15 minutes...New
Jersey visits Edmonton, for the one game I'm sure uLAr and I both circle on the
calendar every year...Devils have been heating up of late...while the Oilers...ahem...have
not...

One match up to look forward to will
be between Taylor Hall and former Windsor Spitfires team mate Adam Henrique...while
the big news in Calgary of late is Jarome Iginla getting goal #500 over the
weekend, last night both Henrique and Iginla scored the Gordie Howe hat
trick...1G, 1A, and a fight...against each other...

Should be a good one...although
still no Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and no Jordan Eberle, who is expected to miss at
least 2 weeks after tweaking a knee...Magnus Paajaarvi was recalled from
Oklahoma...and an emergency callup from the ECHL is making his debut...we'll
also get to see Adam Larsson, the defenseman that went #4 in the draft, behind
Hopkins, Landeskog and Huberdeau...

In the only other NHL action this
evening, Washington hosts Pittsburgh...and the Capitals are holding on to a 1-0
lead at about the halfway mark of the game...Jason Chimera's career high is 17
goals, he already has 14 in game #43...Sidney Crosby is traveling with the Pens,
but his return is still unknown...

Last night, 13 games, lots of
action...none bigger than Jaroslav Halak's return to Montreal for the first time
since being traded to St. Louis...the writing was on the wall before the puck
even dropped...when the dust settled, it was a 3-0 shutout win that left the
Habs singing the Blues...they won't be happy to learn Brian Gionta will miss an
indefinite amount of time after undergoing bicep surgery...

Big win as well in Ottawa over
Pittsburgh, 5-1, as the Sens handed the Pens their fifth straight loss...if
Washington has their way, the skid will continue to 6...

January 6, 2012

11:34 PM: As we head
into what was supposed to be another great weekend of action on the ice...news
comes out tonight that the NHLPA has rejected the conference realignment that
was supposed to go into effect for next season...so barring further
negotiations, the NHL may not have a choice but to continue with the present 2
conference 6 division alignment for one more season...meaning Winnipeg may end
up playing two seasons in the Southeast Division...something you can bet they
won't be happy about...I know the fans won't care, though...

One has to wonder - if the league and union can't even agree
on a conference realignment, then what about a new collective bargaining
agreement!? Be afraid...be very afraid...

Notable games this weekend...we have
the much anticipated rematch of the Stanley Cup Final between Vancouver and
Boston tomorrow afternoon...Cory Schneider will apparently get the start over
Roberto Luongo in that one...hmmmm...is it really going to matter who plays in
net? Seriously?!

Big division game between New Jersey
and Pittsburgh...Detroit is in Toronto...Winnipeg invades Buffalo...and Calgary
returns home to face Minnesota...Edmonton finishes their road trip in
Dallas...yay...

Tonight, the Penguins fell to the NY
Rangers 3-1, and the Devils were 5-2 better than Florida - Ilya Kovalchuk
appears to finally be buying into the Devils' style of play...probably helps to
have a healthier group of players this year...right down to the goalie...

And tonight in the AHL,
Philadelphia's farm team, the Adirondack Phantoms, hosted the Hershey Bears on
the same ice surface the Flyers and Rangers played on four days ago...last I saw
the game was tied 2-2...turns out the Phantoms held on to win 4-3...Michael
Leighton made 24 saves for the win...they packed 45,653 fans into Citizen's Bank
Park...just 1,314 shy of the attendance of the NHL game...this shatters an AHL
record set last year in East Hartford, Connecticut, when 21,673 fans watched the
Whale and the Providence Bruins face off outside...tonight's AHL "Outdoor
Classic" is one of two outdoor games to be played...the next one will be the
weekend before the NHL's All Star Game, in Hamilton at Ivor Wynne Stadium
between the Bulldogs and Toronto Marlies...alumni game is set for Jan 20, and
the game itself Jan 21st...it's the first AHL Outdoor Classic to be played north
of the border...

January 5, 2012

10:54 PM: OK...so
the big game of the night aside from the World Juniors...the Boston Bruins
totally embarrassed Calgary tonight...9-0...wasn't even Thomas in goal, was
Tuukka Rask...Patrice Bergeron and Nathan Horton both with 2 goals, Tyler Seguin
with 1G 1A...wow...what do you say about a team that's lost one game since
November?!?

So, Gustafsson and Gustavsson both
get shutouts...

--------------------

10:44 PM: 58-17 were the final shots, in favor of
Sweden...and Zibanejad gets it, 10:09 into overtime, after an outstanding effort
from Patrik Nemeth to send him in all alone...and a long 31 year Gold Medal
drought is over...but how about Russian goaltender Andrei Makarov?...57 saves!!
But all Team Russia will remember is the one that went in...

They'll be celebrating in just about
every NHL dressing room tonight...and I hear they had a big event out at the new
Ikea in Ottawa's West End...this new store is so huge you can see it from the
highway in Kanata, easily 10 times bigger than the old one!!

How does it feel Russia? Scary
part is - next year's tournament they'll be on home ice...

As they accept their Silver medals,
they won't even put them on...ouch!!

--------------------

10:24 PM: Edmonton carried a 3-1 lead into the 3rd period
against St. Louis, but the Blues have roared back and now lead 4-3...

It was a 4-0 Toronto shutout against Winnipeg...Ottawa
wins 4-1 against Tampa Bay (Kyle Turris finally scores his 1st of the year and
1st as a Senator and gets an assist on Alfredsson's empty netter...by
comparison, David Rundblad has 1 assist since the trade...dare I suggest Ottawa
won the trade? Too early to tell...)...NY Rangers beat Florida 3-2 in
overtime...Philadelphia edges Chicago 5-4 (they led 4-2 at one point)...and
Dallas leads Nashville 4-1 in the 3rd...Phoenix-L.A. and Columbus-San Jose are
10:30 starts...

More to come after the
overtime...going with Zibanejad for Sweden and Kusnetsov for Russia...

--------------------

10:10 PM: Russia's Yevgeni Kusnetsov had the game winning goal on his stick but was
stoned by Johan Gustafsson...that would have been pretty...but it's still
scoreless, as we head to overtime...20 minutes, 4 on 4, and then a
shootout...Sweden has played more overtime than any team in the
tournament...they needed a shootout in the Semi-Final just to get here...Sweden
has not won Gold at this event since 1981...

--------------------

9:59 PM: Power play...Sweden...Mika
Zibanejad has had an outstanding game and tournament...

Action packed day in the
NHL...Ottawa learned today they will send four players to the All Star Game,
held this year at Scotiabank Place...they unveiled the logo at centre ice for
tonight's game against Tampa Bay...Sens are leading that one 3-1, late in the
3rd...

Surprising that Erik Karlsson was
the top vote getter, led Alfie by more than 40,000 votes...Jason Spezza and
Milan Michalek will also represent Ottawa...Michalek just barely made the First
Six, garnering 42,144 more votes than Toronto's Phil Kessel...last year, Kessel
was the last player picked in the fantasy...Dion Phaneuf and Tim Thomas round
out the Top 6...

--------------------

9:51 PM: Well, here's something you're not likely to ever
see again - a Canadian crowd chanting "Let's Go Sweden"...yes, Gold Medal Game
at the World Juniors between Russia and Sweden...still goose eggs in the
3rd...Swedes have outshot the Russians, badly...39-4 after 40 minutes...Russia
is on just their second power play of the game...they are obviously 0 for 1...

...they just hit the post...

Earlier this afternoon, Canada won
the Bronze Medal against Finland...Mark Visentin posted a shutout, Quinton
Howden scored twice in a convincing 4-0 win...not the color they were hoping
for, but at least they stay on the podium...14th straight year that Canada has
left this event with a medal...

About 10 minutes left in
regulation...

January 4, 2012

8:28 AM: Well, Canada did rally, but fell
short by a goal...had it
actually not been for a 3rd period Russian goal to put them ahead 6-1, they
might have actually tied it...the Canadian Comeback made it to 6-5, but fell
short as they simply ran out of time...so Sweden and Russia will battle for
Gold...it'll be Finland and Canada for Bronze...

I'll tell you what - Mark Stone will
fit in perfectly with the Ottawa Senators...big points producer in the regular
season, but invisible when it really counts...he had a goal in the last game of
the Round Robin, but nothing in the Semi-Final...his line, however, got a few
points...doesn't amount to a hill of beans now...

And how good is this Kusnetsov going
to be when he finally makes it to the Washington Capitals' roster? He
could be just what the doctor ordered for Ovechkin...why do I say this?
Canada was able to shut down Ovechkin and Malkin...but Kusnetsov in two meetings
has been a one man wrecking crew that Canada hasn't found an answer for...and he
can skate...certainly can't take anything away from Russia, they outworked and
outplayed us for 40 minutes...

January 3, 2012

10:46 PM: We're only January 3rd, but already I've got the understatement of
the year...Canada needs a miracle of epic proportions in the 3rd period to make
it to the Gold Medal game...well, Russia managed to score five in the 3rd during
last year's match against Canada, Canada would need five in the 3rd this year to
avoid the prospect of Bronze...they need to somehow rekindle the fire from the
round robin...

Unless they actually do it, you
won't hear from me again this evening...

--------------------

10:19 PM: Khoklachev makes it 5-1...Don
Hay calls a timeout...

--------------------

10:14 PM: Hat trick for Kusnetsov...4-1,
Russia...on the same play, goalie Scott Wedgewood was run over by Alexander
Khokhlachev...he left the game and Mark Visentin is in...

--------------------

10:04 PM: Kusnetsov with his 2nd of the
game...3-1, Russia...

--------------------

10:02 PM: Brett Connelly cuts the Russian lead in
half...2-1...Canada has staged a relentless fore-check since the 2nd period
started...

--------------------

9:43 PM: Islanders win the shootout 2-1,
win the game 4-3...3rd straight win, they'reheating up all of a sudden...for now,
they'll be happy to move out of the Eastern Conference basement...with five
teams fighting for 2 final playoff spots, it's a long shot, but the Isles do
have 2 games at hand on New Jersey, and are only 12 points back...they'll have
to leap over 6 teams...stranger things have happened...for my
money...Winnipeg...

--------------------

9:39 PM: Shootout in Raleigh...7-3
Leafs is now a final score...

1 minute left in the 1st period
between Canada and Russia...

--------------------

9:34 PM: Washington beats Calgary 3-1,
Buffalo edges Edmonton 4-3...Drew
Stafford and Nathan Gerbe with two quick ones in the 3rd, and Corey Potter with
a late goal to get within one, but they ran out of time...

The NY Islanders and Carolina
Hurricanes are tied 3-3, in OT...

Looks like Toronto is going to win
6-3 against Tampa...make that 7-3...

It's 5-3 Detroit over Dallas...in
the 2nd...and it's now 3-1 St. Louis...also in the 2nd

1st period between Canada and
Russia, and Russia is already up 2-0...but Canada is about to embark on a 5 on
3...Yevgeni Kusnetsov and Nikita Nesterov with the goals...

Tom Gilbert and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
are both out of the game in Buffalo...Colten Teubert was recalled along with
Josh Green...Teubert replaced Corey Potter for a few games, and now is back to
replace Gilbert...as far as I know there has not been an update on how long
Gilbert and Nuge will be out...coach Tom Renney advised it will be at least 2-3
games, but the team reported he is out indefinitely...

After 40 minutes, it's a 2-2
tie...Taylor Hall and Sam Gagner for Edmonton...Jason Pominville and Jordan
Leopold for Buffalo...

Jaromir Jagr will miss 7-10 days
with a groin problem...

Semi-finals at the World
Juniors...Sweden beat Finland 3-2, in a shootout...the Finns, on the strength of
an outstanding performance by Mikael Granlund, blew a 2-0 lead, and with the
game on his stick, couldn't score in the shootout to at least extend the
shootout...the hero of the day for Sweden was Max Friberg with 1G 1A...they will
now advance to play either Canada or Russia for Gold...that semi-final game gets
going in about 20 minutes...and you know Canada hasn't forgotten what happened 1
year ago...

In last night's Colorado-Los Angeles
game, it was Dustin Brown and Ryan O'Reilly both trading their 10 goals of the
season...O'Reilly with a late rally to tie the game and send it to overtime,
where the Avalanche won in a shootout, 2-1...Milan Hejduk continues his shootout
mastery...

Tonight, it's a 5-3 Toronto lead
over Tampa Bay after 2 periods...St. Louis leads Phoenix 2-1 after
1...Washington leads Calgary 3-1 in the 3rd...Carolina leads the Islanders 2-1
in the 3rd...and Detroit is up 3-1 on Dallas after 1...of all the games, only
Jiri Hudler so far has a multi goal night, with 2 for the Red Wings...Valtteri
Filppula, however, already has 3 points, 1G 2A...

3rd period just underway in Buffalo
and the Sabres are flying...

January 2, 2012

10:59 PM: Geez...Ales
Hemsky can't even score an Empty Netter...big save from Devyn Dubnyk in the
dying seconds, and the Oilers snap their 3 game losing streak...quick change as
they head to Buffalo for a game tomorrow night...I just hope the news is good
for Gilbert and Nuge...

Sharks win the shootout, and win the
game 3-2 in Vancouver...Michal Handzus with the only goal in the shootout...

--------------------

10:45 PM: Overtime in Vancouver...actually...it's
going to a shootout...

It's a 4-2 Oilers lead in Chicago...Ben Eager scores against
his former team...

--------------------

10:16 PM: I feel like I just watched a
replay of last week's Sens-Flames game...Karlsson
to Alfredsson...goal...Sens win 3-2...

Cody Hodgson has squared the affair
in Vancouver - 2-2 tie in the 3rd...

--------------------

10:15 PM: 4 on 3 power play for Ottawa...

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10:07 PM: 2nd intermission in Chicago...overtime in Ottawa...3rd
straight overtime game for the Sens...Martin Brodeur faced his 29,000th shot
this evening...overtime records - Devils are 10-1, Sens are 7-5...NJ has owned
Ottawa in the extra frame...including a 5-4 shootout win the last time they
hooked up on Dec 8...you have to go back almost 10 years to find the last time the
Senators beat the Devils in overtime in the regular season...

--------------------

10:01 PM: Clarkson and Zubrus for New Jersey, Spezza
and Condra for Ottawa, 2-2 tie between the Devils and Senators in the 3rd,
late... / Ferriero and Marleau for San Jose, Hansen for Vancouver...2-1,
Sharks...that one at the 2nd intermission...

And queue up the theme from "M.A.S.H."
in Chicago...NHL top rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has left the game between the
Hawks and Oilers after he fell awkwardly in the first...seemed to trip over the
blue line...he was favoring his left shoulder...that would be a huge loss if
that injury is anything more than day to day...but there were more casualties in
the 2nd...Dan Carcillo ran Tom Gilbert into the boards and both players left the
game and haven't returned...Carcillo ended up with a five minute major and a
game misconduct...after falling 1-0 after the first thanks to Jonathan Toews'
22nd of the season, the Oilers scored twice on the five minute power play to go
up 2-1, Ryan Smyth and Taylor Hall both lighting the lamp...Andrew Brunette tied
it with a deflection of a Nik Hjalmarsson shot, who moments earlier thought Hall
should have received a high sticking penalty...about 3 minutes left in the 2nd,
and Andy Sutton has put the Oil back up, it's 3-2...just 2nd of the year for
Sutton...hard to rack up points when you've served suspensions for half the
season (or so it seems)...another 2 point night for Jordan Eberle...

L.A.-Colorado is a 10:30 Eastern
start...

--------------------

7:05 PM: So the Rangers made a game of it in the 3rd...Mike
Rupp tied it with his 2nd of the game, and 4th of the year...then Brad Richards,
the big money player that he is, put the Rangers ahead for good with the GWG -
Rangers win 3-2 and more importantly put some distance between themselves and
the Flyers for the Atlantic and Eastern Conference lead...and the home futility
streak continues...Boston in 2010, and Calgary last year...those are the only
two home teams to win an outdoor game since the NHL started staging them...

Later on...Ottawa hosts New
Jersey...8th vs 6th in the Eastern Conference...Vancouver hosts San
Jose...Sharks are just 1 point out of 8th in the West while the Canucks continue
to hold down 2nd...1st place in the West Chicago hosts Edmonton who are 10 back
of a playoff spot...and later on it's the suddenly surging Los Angeles Kings
againt the surprising Colorado Avalanche...Avs are hanging around in 9th with
Dallas having 3 games at hand, and the Kings continue to lead the Pacific...one
good thing about next year's realignment - no more division leaders having a
seeding advantage over a team that's ahead of them in points just because they
happen to lead their division...Kings are in 3rd with 44 points, and Detroit,
despite having 49 points, sit in 4th...not going to happen after this season...

--------------------

4:49 PM: Scoring in bunches...3
goals in 2:25...Flyers got on the board first - Brayden Schenn is probably
wishing there were more of these outdoor games - he finally potted his first NHL
goal to get the game going...then moments later, Claude Giroux made it 2-0...and
moments ago, Mike Rupp got the Rangers on the board, and did the Jaromir Jagr
salute...it's 2-1, Philly, almost at the 2nd intermission now...

Speaking of Jagr, heleft the game before
the end of the 1st...returned for the 2nd, but has barely played...possible he
could be hurting...

--------------------

4:02 PM: 1st intermission in Philadelphia at the Winter Classic...no
score to report yet...both teams have had a short power play and both teams have
had their chances...Jaromir Jagr had the best chance to score towards the end of
the period, and was stoned by Henrik Lundqvist...

Surprise start today, Sergei Bobrovsky for Philly - Ilya
Bryzgalov let it be known he wasn't going to be playing, and even tweeted a
picture of a Thermos that he said would be full of tea...was flipping between
the two broadcasts (CBC and NBC), and Darren Pang either didn't know Bryz wasn't
playing or forgot, because he mentioned that he was standing behind Bryzgalov...my
question - how far behind?

I've finally gotten around to watching the HBO 24-7
show, last year's for Pittsburgh-Washington, I have one more episode to
watch...the Rangers-Flyers season has one more episode on Jan 5, so I'll wait
until that airs...

Interesting move...they played both
the Canadian and U.S. national anthems before the start of the game, and did the
Lauren Hart-Kate Smith duet during the first intermission?! Popular
demand, maybe? Ah, wait...just saw Flyers' alumni gathered behind the
rink...